So a month ago I made a call for help on here ( http://www.furaffinity.net/view/24291762/ ) and did get some advice, but ultimately, ended up taking my nonfunctional hard drive to a local computer store. They assured me it was an easy fix and that I'd be able to have my hard drive back by the next day.

Long story short, yesterday I was called and given condolences, because my hard drive was entirely fried. It's something that happens sometimes, especially with drives in casings that get a lot of use. I could get the data recovered, but it's not a for sure thing and I don't have the money to shell out to get the drive even looked at by a decryption service- that's how fried it is.

I told them to recycle it.

It hurts, but I can't dwell on it. I'm going to get a solid state drive (if I can afford one) and start from scratch. I lost all my comic work, I lost all my commissions, I lost everything. But there's only "forward" to go from here. So "forward" I'll go.